intimidated by the israeli lobby in the united states senate. >> i already stated i regret the terminology. >> but you said back then it makes us do dumb things. >> reporter: if confirmed, he would be the loechb republican in the cabinet, also the first vietnam veteran in the position. his supporters argue that experience makes him uniquely qualify. every senate democrat is expected to support the confirmation. he also has the support of at least one rep, but he'll need four more to prevent a filibuster. >>> there will be a new trial for the man convicted in the so-called georgetown cuddler case. the judge overturned the 2010 conviction of 26-year-old todd thomas. in the decision, he says the original judge in the case wrongly allowed thomas' prior convictions to be presented to the jury. the jury convicted thomas for 11 counts of burglary and assault. prosecutors saying between 2007 and 2008, he brought into the homes of georgetown university students and assaulted them. >>> there's a question about whether the man who has been going around groping women in northern virginia has done it a

is some the one that received overwhelming support from the united states senate. >> reporter: earlier kerry was greeted by cheers. it is a committee he led the past four years. >> first of all, you had a -- lightning-speed approval of the committee unanimously. >> reporter: kerry says he hopes the approval is part of the greater bipartisanship. >> there is so much on plate. we need to find a way to work together. i hope this is a symbol people are really prepared to do that. >> reporter: outgoing secretary of state hillary clinton recognized a deep divisions in congress have hurt progress. >> you can't let compromise become a dirt write word because then you veer towards fanaticism. >> reporter: she laid out the complicated map kerry would navigate. security challenges in north africa and the middle east. departmental changes in response to that deadly terrorist attack in benghazi, libya. >> every day a mixture of trying to end crises, help people be smart about using the tools of american diplomacy. >> reporter: kerry's colleagues say he is ready for the challenges. >> respe